After what seemed to be hours of bliss, Tonks pulled away from Harry who stared both happily and bewilderedly at her pretty face. She was wearing a slight, satisfied smile. His mouth was hung open, his eyes wide. He slowly closed it. There was a long and awkward pause. Then Tonks's smile disappeared.
"Thanks—for the uh—water." She said hesitantly.
"No problem." Said Harry feeling all of a sudden hot. "How come you just don't use magic to heal the wound?" he asked randomly, in hopes of changing the awkward mood.
"It was curse. Snape hit me on leg with one of his self-invented jinxes. Never heard of it before. It was really powerful. I can tell you that." Tonks moved slowly towards the cave wall and leaned her head back against it. "I need rest." She said with her eyes closed.
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Harry woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. He had been lying on the hard and damp floor all night. He sat up feeling his neck and back aching. Tonks was sleeping not far from him, her head slanting awkwardly. He stood up, feeling his legs ready to give up. Tonks opened her eyes and sat up, too.
"You hungry?" he asked her. She nodded weakly. Harry began to walk towards the cavern door when Tonks stopped him. "Harry?" Harry spun around to see she was staggering up. He helped her up and she leaned her back against the damp wall. She was panting heavily. "Thanks. I think I'll be able to conjure water—you can go and get us some food. After we're done eating—I'll apparate us somewhere else." Harry nodded and left the cave.
The air was thick and hot, much unlike inside the cave. Harry looked around for any source of food he could find. There were a few yellowish things that he decided not to try. He had built up such and urge to use magic that it was becoming quickly impossible to refuse. He felt his hand grab his wand, but quickly released it.
After an hour of searching and collecting, Harry returned back to the cave to see Tonks sitting on the floor looking at her leg. She was wincing every time she touched it. Harry sat down next to her and dropped the pile of fruits he found. He didn't look into her eyes. He refused to. Tonks grabbed a pineapple and sawed it open with her wand. She gave Harry a piece and their hands touched. Both of them looked up at each other. Harry could feel the blood rushing up to his face and the room beginning to grow hotter and hotter. He could also see Tonks's face had turned a dark shade of pink.
Releasing her hands, she continued to eat her portion of the fruits. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Tonks decided to break the silence. "Thanks—for uh—helping me—with the water and this—and yeah." He had never heard her so shy before.
"No problem." He said, slightly more enthusiastic then he felt. Silence fell over then again and Harry began to feel extremely uncomfortable. "So—uh—why'd you choose this place? You know—to apparate when we were being attacked." His mind wondered off. He began to worry about Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, Neville and Luna.
"Dunno. I went here once with my dad. Just sort of popped into my mind. It was—well I was really happy that week I guess. Me and my dad—spending time together. We don't do that much, anymore. With him worrying and me working—there just not much fun anymore. You know?" This broke Harry's chain of worries. He looked at her with a "I'm sorry" sort of look. He had never thought about Tonks's life outside of Hogwarts and in the Order. She always seemed so carefree. Now that she mentioned her father, Harry realized that he knew very little about her. Do I even know her at all? He thought to himself as he ate another bite. Why would I have all these feelings for her if I don't even know her? An indescribable discomfort crept over him. Tonks seemed to notice this, but she gave no attempt to lighten the mood.
"So where are we going to go next?" Harry asked.
"I dunno yet," she said simply. "Can't go back to Hogwarts, obliviously. Can't go to Diagon Ally. Way to easy for Death Eaters to recognize us there. Can't be the Burrow—the last time I checked in to talk with Molly the place's deserted."
"What?" Harry exclaimed.
"Yeah, looks like she's moved."
"B—but how come Ron and Ginny doesn't know?"
"I dunno."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Recon they'd know sooner or later. I didn't want to be the one to tell Ron his mother's left his home, leaving everything and not telling him." There was yet again a long pause as Harry tried to comprehend what Tonks had just said. Then an idea popped into his head.
"We can go back to Privet Drive." Said Harry. He couldn't believe he actually suggested that, but being there was a better alternative then inside a damp and uncomfortable cave.
"Yeah," she said nodding her head slowly. "We could. That's actually the best place we could go to." Harry helped her up, feeling her cold body press again his. "Hold on tight." She said as they were once again, engulfed in total darkness.
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They arrived outside Number Four Privet drive. Harry and Tonks walked slowly towards the house, side by side. The street was deserted and the sky was unusually dark, especially for noon. The air was cold and the wind blew feverishly. There was an odd howl in the distance, and Harry felt Tonks's hand slipped into his. She clutched it tightly as she limped with him. They arrived in front of the door, which was left ajar. Both him and Tonks had their wands drawn as Harry pushed the creaking door open. It opened to reveal a battered up house, with a shattered staircase, a blown up TV, and dishes scattered all across the deserted place.
Harry held Tonks's hand tightly, too. Harry turned the corner to the living room, and there, lying on the ground was a fat body. "Lumos!" Tonks yelled pointing at the body. Her wand lit up and Harry made out whom it was. It was Uncle Vernon, lying limped on the glass filled floor. Bloodstains were all over his shirt.
"Un—Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked making his way closer to the huge body. Uncle Vernon's back was faced towards him. He used his feet, and with great effort, turned his uncle's face to him. Blood was dripping from his eyes, nose, and mouth. Tonks gasped. Harry stood dumfounded. "Uncle Vernon?" he said again as if it would make his uncle jump up and laugh at him, declaring that this whole thing was a hoax for some disgusting reason. But his uncle merely laid on the ground, pale and dead. Harry fell down by his uncle's side.
He never liked him. But something about seeing the man that had raised him since he was a baby, dead, made him sick to the stomach. On top of that, Harry knew that Uncle Vernon had died in his account. There was a large bang! outside which made him jump to his feet.
"What was that?" he asked. Tonks too had jumped and the two made their way out of the house. There was a man standing in the shadows with a pointed black hood on. He had a wand in his hand, which was pointed straight at Harry.
"Get back inside!" Tonks yelled. Harry didn't move. "GO!" Harry ran inside, feeling both scared and angry. He felt unless. He looked outside the window to see Tonks flying backwards after being hit by a jinx. She sat up wearily rubbing softly at the wound on her leg. Harry could see the man approaching. Tonks threw a curse at him which sent him flying. Harry could hear the man hiss something and then with yet another crack! he was gone.
Harry ran back outside to help Tonks up. "What was that?"
"A Death Eater," she said, wincing at her pain.
"What'd he say. I heard him say something."
"Nothing." She said immediately.
"But I—"
"We have to get out of here." She said. "After my leg gets a bit better." The two limped their way back in, but Harry stopped at the entrance to the door. "What is it?" she asked.
"Look at that." Harry pointed at an engraving on the wall next to the door. There was an engraving of a "P" with a large circle around it. Around the fire was an arrow shaped engraving of what looked like fire. The arrow pointed right.
"What—has it always been here?"
"I—no I don't think so." Harry stood looking oddly at the engraving. "Maybe—maybe we should follow it?"
"No—I don't think we should Harry. I mean—what if it's a trap?"
"What if its not?" The two stood looking at each other. "I want to bury my uncle—"
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After burying his uncle, Harry made his way back into the disserted house. Tonks was seated on a ripped sofa fiddling with her fingers. Harry sat down next to her with a frown. She smiled warmly at him and held his hand.
"We'll follow the arrow." She said. Harry smiled weakly back at her. She lowered her head onto his shoulders and rubbed her hand against his. "Everything's going to be okay."
"I know." He said leaning towards her. He realized what he felt for her. He loved her. I don't care if I don't know her family. It doesn't matter where she grew up and how she became the person she is. I know the person she is. And I love her. That's all that matters. He found himself thinking. The two slept there on the sofa, with her in his arms until morning, when Tonks got up and showered. Harry went into his old bedroom to get out a toothbrush and washed up. After an hour or so Tonks got out of the restroom in Aunt Petunia's clothes. Harry could help but to laugh.
"Be quiet!" She said blushing. "I have to look like a Muggle if I'm going to be walking around their streets. You should change too." Harry nodded, still grinning. He changed into his clothes and then went into Uncle Vernon's room to get as much Muggle Money as he could. Then the two went out of the house. Harry had an arm around her shoulders as the two followed the direction of the arrow, not knowing where it would lead them…
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They had traveled for five hours, walking mindlessly. Harry looked over at Tonks who was beginning to wince in pain again. He looked around and found a restaurant. The two sat down and Harry went through the expensive menu. He frowned and dug in his pockets to find that he had more then enough money to pay for the food. He decided not to waste too much money however, and bought only drinks for the two of them after Tonks told him that she wasn't hungry.
"What do we do next?" she asked with a frown on her pale face.
"I dunno—" he felt angry at not being able to do anything. Not even knowing if his friends were okay. He looked out of the window to see a short red haired woman who looked almost too familiar. It was Mrs. Weasley. Tonks had seen her too. The two got up and existed the restaurant.
"Molly!" Tonks yelled. Mrs. Weasley stopped and turned back. Her looked a lot older and wrinkly then Harry remembered her.
"Tonks. Harry." She said in a tired voice. "You two are finally here."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Everyone's waiting for you two."
"You knew we were okay?"
"Course we did." Mrs. Weasley said still in her tired voice.
"Why didn't you just—?"
"We couldn't risk it. Let's go."
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It was dark by the time they had gotten the three reached an old looking wooden cabin. Threw the closed curtains of the windows, Harry could make out light from within. Mrs. Weasley knocked on the door three times. The door opened to reveal Neville. He was scarred and his hair was long then Harry had ever seen it.
"Mrs. Weasly—HARRY!" Neville exclaimed.
"SHH!" hissed someone from inside. Neville opened the door wider and the three got inside. Luna was sitting in the corner of the living room and upon noticing them gave Harry a huge smile. Pavarti was next to Luna and got up to give Harry a hug. Seamus and Dean were eating and both patted Harry on the back. The room was lit by candles and oil lamps and smelled of dead rats. Harry looked around but there was no one else. No Hermione. No Ron. No Ginny. Harry opened his mouth to ask Mrs. Weasley when a door on the far right corner creaked open to reveal Mad-Eye Moody along with Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout. Their faces were grave and wrinkled. Professor Sprout was in tears.
Harry looked worriedly around the room to see that everyone's face had fallen, too. He looked at Tonks who looked even more worried then he was.
"What is it Alastor?" Tonks asked in a quivering voice. Mad-Eye stood looking into her eyes.
"He's dead, Nymph. He's gone. Remus's dead!"
